White Chocolate Cardamom Mousse with Spekulatius Crumbs

Isn't it funny how fast the holidays have raced past? Wasn't it just a few days ago I was fussing about my menu plan for Christmas Eve dinner, packing presents to help Santa with his huge duties and ranting on about what to wear at the New Year's Eve party with my girlfriends?

I was just getting used to sleeping late, enjoying late breakfasts with my boys, lazing into the day, visiting friends, reading or sledging with Soeren - that was the order of the day for the past 2 weeks. Now it's back to work, routines, appointments and the need to pick up the pace again. The last two weeks of December poofed away too fast. But they always do - every year!

Hopefully you all had a great start to your new year and are as excited to get on with the new and be done with the old as I am. I was just jotting down the vacations and upcoming highlights for 2010 and I have to say if the rest of the year looks as good as this then it's gotta be a good one. Just for starters, I will be getting visitors from Nantes towards the end of January, maybe a trip to Dubai, Food Blogger Connect in June, summer in Norway and A-HA in Dresden with my Cook Sister! Not to mention spending a few fun weekends in and around Berlin as Tom starts a new episode in his life.

Have you all made any resolutions for the new year? Tell me!

I am not much for resolutions I have to admit. I simply believe if I need to change something in my life then I should do it - at that point and not wait till the year ends. I am impatient by nature and waiting only dissatisfies me. Sure there are times when you do not have control over certain issues then there is a wait. But if I can control it then I can change it. So, here's to hoping that I have a lot of control over 2010!

I am afraid that you won't have much control over this sweet sin though. It was our Christmas Eve dinner dessert - a fluffy white chocolate mousse flavored sensually with the warmth of cardamom and sprinkled with spiced spekulatius crumbs. I made a few extras just in case any of our guests were craving seconds - what can I say? I should have made enough for thirds!

Place a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir together the chocolate and cream in the bowl until the chocolate has melted. Set aside to cool.

Soak gelatin in a small bowl of cold water for approx. 5 minutes, then squeeze excess water. Place the gelatin in a small saucepan and gently heat. Add 1-2 tablespoons of the chocolate-cream mixture and stir to dissolve the gelatin.

Stir in the eggs into the slightly warm chocolate-cream mixture, then add the cardamom powder and the gelatin to the mixture and incorporate.

Refrigerate for about 20 - 30 minutes, until the mixture has thickened slightly.

Beat the egg whites with electric beaters until firm peaks form. Fold into the cream mixture until evenly combined.

Divide the mousse mixture into dessert bowls, glasses or cups, then refrigerate for 3 hours or preferably overnight until set.

Before serving sprinkle generous amounts of the spekulatius crumbs over the top. Alternatively you can layer the mousse mixture with the crumbs. To do this you will need to fill your dessert glass half way, then sprinkle a thick layer of the spekulatius crumbs, pour a layer of the mousse mixture and finally top with another spekulatius crumb layer. The mousse mixture will have to be fairly thick to avoid the crumbs sinking into the mousse while layering so increase the initial refrigeration time in step 4. accordingly.

A nice way to kick off the new year – don’t you think? A treat to satisfy all your sweet teeth - and I know there are a few of them out there. It certainly satisfied ours. Mousse is always an all time favorite - being elegant and exquisite, fluffy, and dense, moist and simply irresistible in every way. White chocolate epitomized the white Christmas we were having, while the cardamom added the warming glow and the spekulatius crumbs were an added crunchy bonus to play-off against the smoothness of the entire dessert. It went down with our friends quite well - I watched them savor each bite - slowly and almost affectionately - until I told them there was plenty for another round.

My latest article on the FoodieView Blog is all about Mesmerizing Macarons so if you are looking for ideas or a little kick-start to make these tantalizing treats come on over and have a look and the huge variety I have listed for you!

Oh Meeta! You had me at Spekulatius! These look divine and I remember you telling me about it when you were making them. Amazing flavour combinations, even though I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, I can just imagine it would work well in this mousse - Yum! Gorgeous photos too as always!

There is no way that you could resolve NOT to eat this dessert! It looks stunning! Looks like you have a busy year ahead of you - can't wait to see what 2010 brings in terms of new experiences for you and new desserts for us!

I tried this one but it did not turn out to be as good as yours. But it was appreciated by all in our family. Next time I want to try making it still better. I have already taken out print of your recipe.

Well you see the problem is that lovely little treats like this are kind of not on the list right now, due to my new year resolution to loose weight! (that's a classic newyear resolution anyway, isn't it?) It does look gorgeous though!

I hear you, sister: where did those halcyon days of sleeping late, slothing about in slippers, lazy lunches and late-night movies go?? But as you say, much to look forward to this year - roll on summer and Morten! Hope you had a fantastic festive season, and these desserts look just heavenly!

And we still need a vacation so Weimar it is! And I expect to eat well! This mousse is absolutely mouthwateringly beautiful and the photos and styling is stunning. You are amazing. White chocolate and cardomom sounds fabulous!

i just happened to stumble upon your blog, and i'm so glad i did! - cardamom is one of my favorite things in the whole world, and this recipe looks like my idea of heaven! - can't wait to try it - and i've just bookmarked your blog so i can keep checking back! - thanks!

Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hello, I am Meeta a freelance food photographer, stylist and writer living in the cuturally rich city of Weimar, Germany with my husband and our son, where I enjoy preparing multi-cultural home cooked meals with fresh organic ingredients. What's for lunch, Honey? is my award winning food blog where I combine my love for food with my love for photography and styling...